POSITION TITLE
Operations Manager, Development 

REPORTING RELATIONSHIP
This position reports to the Vice President, Development

START DATE
February 9, 2026

WHO WE ARE

At Step Up, we believe girls deserve to define and pursue success on their terms. By bringing girls together in inspired spaces – on and offline – we spark exploration and discussion of what’s possible. With structured support and access to a strong community, we guide girls towards their unique goals: first, by identifying those goals and then, building the roadmap to get there.

Step Up participants are high school girls and those who identify with girlhood and young women and those who identify with womanhood (ages 14-29), who are facing systemic barriers.

Step Up is in the process of implementing its five-year strategic plan, focused on strengthening existing programs through a blended mentorship model of virtual, in-person and independent learning methodologies.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Development Operations Manager is responsible for overseeing and optimizing fundraising operations and providing administrative and project support to the development team.

The Development Operations Manager is the infrastructure lead of the fundraising team, serving as the bridge between back-end data management and front-line donor relations. 

 

This role is responsible for the health of the donor database, gift processing, and financial reconciliation. This position will play a central role in ensuring the smooth, daily operations of the development team, including individual donor relations, government and foundation funders, corporate partnerships, corporate mentor engagement, and event fundraising.

 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Development Operations + Database Management

Partner in the creation and execution of systems that support the daily operations of the development team.

  • CRM Administration: Serve as the primary administrator for the donor database. Maintain data integrity, manage duplicate records, and ensure accurate coding of all gifts. 
  • Gift Processing: Manage the end-to-end gift cycle. Process donations (checks, wires, credit cards, stock) within 48 hours.
  • Pledge Management: Track and manage open pledges, generating invoices and reminders for corporate sponsors and major donors as needed. 
  • Reporting & Analytics: Create dashboards to track fundraising progress. Provide weekly revenue reports and pull custom lists for appeals and event invitations. 
  • Financial Reconciliation: Liaison with Finance to perform monthly reconciliations, ensuring Development and Finance records align. 
  • Matching donations: accurately track and report matching donations.   

 

Corporate Partnership Strategy + Pipeline Development

Support the identification, planning, and cultivation efforts that drive a strong and sustainable corporate partnership program

  • Corporate Partnership Fulfillment: Ensure all corporate sponsors and partners receive their agreed-upon benefits. This includes marketing recognition, the creation and maintenance of a corporate partner fulfillment calendar, and, in collaboration with the Programs department, coordination of employee engagement mentoring opportunities.
  • Mid-Level & Corporate Concierge: Serve as the primary point of contact for mid-level corporate supporters not assigned to a development team member.
  • Beneficiary Partners Portfolio Management: Serve as the direct relationship manager for beneficiary partners—corporate partners specifically running third-party activations, point-of-sale campaigns, or percentage-of-profit donations. 
  • Corporate partnership procurement: Support the development of partnership/sponsorship decks and pitch materials. 
  • Impact Reporting: Coordinate the distribution of impact reports to corporate partners and foundation contacts to ensure they see the ROI of their contributions. 
  • Pipeline Building: Prospect and research new corporate partnership opportunities to ensure a strong corporate partnership pipeline and field new partnership interests via the corporate partner interest form.
  • Stewardship Matrix Management: Implement the annual stewardship calendar to ensure all donors receive consistent touchpoints based on giving levels. 
  • Industry Knowledge: Stay abreast of corporate funding sources and trends, with foresight, to position Step Up ahead of major funding changes

 

One Step Up Support

  • Represent Step Up at local, regional and national events and meetings, and provide support to local Step Up team members, as needed.
  • Support cross-functional and collaborative working groups or special projects as organizational needs arise, and priorities evolve.
  • Other duties as assigned.

 

QUALIFICATIONS

 

  • Experience: 3–5 years of experience in non-profit development, operations, or corporate relations.
  • Technical Proficiency: Advanced proficiency in CRM software (Salesforce  experience preferred) Canva, Power Point and Excel.
  • Corporate Literacy: Comfort reviewing sponsorship agreements and communicating with corporate CSR representatives.
  • Stewardship Focus: Proven experience managing donor benefits or sponsorship fulfillment.
  • Communication: Excellent writing skills for donor correspondence and the ability to represent the organization professionally to corporate partners.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

 

LOGISITICAL INFORMATION

  • Location: Remote position with preference for candidates based in these Step Up markets: Chicago, New York, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Nashville.
  • Salary: The salary for this role is $63,000.
  • Time Off: Step Up has a generous time off policy which includes unlimited paid time off and 14 paid holidays.
  • Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, 401k, Life AD&D, and Short- and Long-Term Disability
  • Application Deadline: Friday, January 2, 2026
  • Position Start Date: Monday, February 9, 2026